An Italian intelligence agent who was kidnapped last month in Afghanistan has died of injuries sustained during a NATO raid to free him.
Italian Defense Ministry officials say Lorenzo D'Auria died Thursday in a hospital near Rome.
The 33-year-old agent suffered critical head injuries as he was being rescued from Afghan rebels during a NATO-led raid on September 24.
Members of the Taleban had kidnapped D'Auria and another Italian intelligence officer two days before the raid.
At least five of their abductors were reported killed during the gunbattle between NATO-led forces and the rebels.
NATO has denied Italian media reports that the two agents were wounded by friendly fire during the raid. Instead, NATO says the hostages were struck when their Taleban captors opened fire.
There are more than 2,000 Italian soldiers currently stationed in Afghanistan.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
